Folding egg-crate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. BENNETT. FOLDING BGG CRATE.

No. 582,613. Patented May 18, 1897.

kwmwwl Mmmm imwmw (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. BENNETT. FOLDING BGG CRATE.

N0. 582,613.` Patented May 18, 1897.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT OEE-TCE.

JOHN \V. BENNETT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FOLDING EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,613, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed February 17, 1897. Serial No. 623,907. (No model.)

T0 f/.ZZ 707mm t may concern' Be it known that I, JOHN WV. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in folding egg-crates, and the object is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable device of this kind.

To this end the novelt-y consists in'the construction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference-characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved egg-crate. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the crate open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crate folded. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the end fastener. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a section of the nest removed from the crate, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the nest folded.

1 represents the bottom of the crate, and to its opposite ends are secured the solid end pieces 2 and 3 by the hinges 3 3, so as to fold inwardly and lie flat on the bottom 1. A longitudinal rib t is permanently secured to the top side of the front edge of the bottom 1, and to this rib 4 is secured the front piece 5,which is likewise adapted to fold down inwardly on top of the end pieces 2 and 3.

6 represents a longitudinal rib secured to the top side of the rear edge of the bottom, and to it is secured the back piece 7 by hinges 8 S, and to the upper edge of said back piece 7 is secured the hinged top 9, the forward edge of which is provided with a hinged hasp 10, engaging a staple 12 on the front piece 5.

13 represents the usual removable partition which divides the interior of the crate into two compartments, and 14 14 are the usual packing-nests for containing the eggs.

15 represents a locking-lever fulcrumed on a pin 16 in a groove 17 in the upper edge of the end pieces 2 and 3, and the outer end of said lever is formed with an integral T-shaped circular head 18, which engages a vertical slot 19 in the outer upper edges of the front piece 5 and the back 7, which not only holds the front and back securely up to the end pieces, but at the same time prevents any lateral play of said end pieces.

Vhen the top is closed down, these levers are securely locked in their slots, and it is impossible to release them until the top is raised. Consequently when the crate is filled with eggs or other merchandise and the hasp sealed or locked the contents are practically safe during transportation.

The folding or collapsible nests la are formed of rectangular strips of card or straw board 20, to which are hinged a series of intersecting partitions 21, forming the individual egg-chambers 22, each one of which is just large enough to receive a single egg.

The manner of hinging the partitions 21 to the strips 20 is best illustrated in Fig. 5, in which 23 represents the hinge, which is composed of a strip of any suitable iexible fabric, secured by cement to t-he edges of the opposite sides of the partitions 21 and the contiguous faces of the rectangular strips 20. This construction permits the nest to be folded accordion-like, so as to lie comparativelyat in the bottom of the crate when folded.

When the crate is to be folded, the lockinglevers 15 are turned backward in their grooves and the head 18 snugly fits in the transverse recess I9, so as to protect it from derangement and not interfere with'other parts of the crate when folded.

I do not desire to confine myself to wood in the construction of my improved folding crate, as leather and its substitutes, as well as heavy straw-paper boards of commerce, vulcanized fiber, and the like may be employed. Neither do I wish to limit its use to to an egg-crate, as it is obvious that it forms a convenient collapsible packing-case for dry goods and similar merchandise.

In some cases I prefer to make the box, on a small scale, of tin or other suitable sheet metal of a convenient size to form a lunchbox, which may be folded to occupy such a small space as to be conveniently carried in the pocket.

IOS)

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

A folding crate or box, comprising thc solid bottom l, the end pieces 2 3 hinged thereto and having their upper edges formed with grooves 17 and transverse recesses 19, a lock- 

